Claiming that Congress leaders were "trying to while away their time" in Parliament, BJP today said the party was conceding self-goals...

MoS Rajiv Pratap Rudy speaks in the Lok Sabha (PTI)

Claiming that Congress leaders were “trying to while away their time” in Parliament, BJP today said the party was conceding self-goals in its attempt to spread a misinformation campaign over various matters including the “overblown” issue of Rahul Gandhi’s security assessment by Delhi Police.

At the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting here this morning, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in the absence of any pro-people issue Congress was blowing up non-issues.

The party had to cut a “sorry figure” in Parliament after facts were rolled out that such an exercise was done by Delhi Police for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, BJP President Amit Shah, the Home Minister and the Finance Minister.

The example of how Congress stalled the budget discussion in Lok Sabha on Friday when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was not present was also highlighted by Naidu, who cited several instances in the past when the main Cabinet Minister was not present for an important reason but discussion was taken up.

The issue of crop damage and loss of farmers in several states due to the recent hailstorm was also highlighted, with a demand that a central team be sent to the affected places and an assessment be made for the Centre to extend support.

The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka and other island nations was lauded at the meet and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will make a formal statement in this regard in both Houses of Parliament tomorrow.

“It was observed in general that Congress is conceding self goals. In an absence of issues for people…how the issue of Rahul Gandhi’s assessment by Delhi Police for his security was overblown… There were several illustrative examples of how self goal has been conceded by the Congress,” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

“It was also noticed that the Congress party has been trying to while away their time and they have been trying to disturb the House and not take up parliamentary businesses that are significant and important for the country’s progress…,” Rudy told reporters after the meeting.

At the meeting, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present, MPs were asked to ensure their presence in Parliament to show the party’s strength and to ensure passage of key bills.